Donald Trump, known for his unconventional political style, has started literal demolition work on the White House. On Monday, crews began removing part of the East Wing to make way for a new $250-million ballroom. An excavator tore through the East Wing’s facade, leaving debris and steel, as reported by AFP journalists.
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Hosting college baseball players at the White House, Trump noted the construction noise, mentioning “a lot of construction on the other side”. Later, the 79-year-old billionaire officially announced the start of the ballroom project, marking the biggest addition to the presidential mansion in over a century.
“I’m excited to announce that the White House grounds have been broken to build the new, large, beautiful White House Ballroom,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He stated that the East Wing is undergoing “full modernization” and will be “more beautiful than ever” once finished. Traditionally, the East Wing houses the First Lady’s offices, while the President works in the West Wing, and the couple resides in the Executive Mansion.
‘Generous Patriots’
Though Trump mentioned the East Wing is “separate from the White House,” it is actually connected by a colonnade. He argues the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom, accommodating 1,000 people, is essential for hosting large state dinners and other events that currently require tents.
Last week, the former reality TV star held an elegant dinner for ballroom donors, including representatives from tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, and Palantir, and defense company Lockheed Martin, all with significant government contracts.
Guests also included Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini crypto platform founders, made famous by “The Social Network” movie. “The White House Ballroom is privately funded by many generous patriots, great American companies, and myself. It will be joyfully used for generations,” Trump said.
This ballroom is the largest element of Trump’s extensive White House renovations since his January return, which also included gold decor in the Oval Office and changes to the Rose Garden. Trump has revealed plans for a grand arch in Washington, dubbed “Arc de Trump” by AFP.
